Effect of cutting interval and winter dormancy on yield, persistence, nitrogen concentration, and root reserves of irrigated lucerne in the Queensland subtropics

1993 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 847 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Gramshaw ◽  
KF Lowe ◽  
DL Lloyd
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Growth Stage ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Fixed Interval ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
High Dry Matter ◽  
Root Reserves ◽  
Cutting Interval ◽  
Cutting Management ◽  
Subtropical Environment

The use of fixed interval or growth stage (crown bud elongation) cutting management for lucerne was studied for cultivars with dormancy characteristics ranging from highly winter-active to winter-dormant. Fixed cutting intervals ranged from 3 to 8 weeks and were imposed on irrigated stands in a subtropical environment. Persistence, dry matter yield, weed yield, nitrogen (N) concentration and yield, and root reserves were measured over a 2-year period. For cultivars from all dormancy classes, persistence was highest with either 5- or 6-weekly cutting, while dry matter yield was maximised with 5-weekly cutting. Nitrogen concentration was highest with 3-weekly cutting but N yield was greatest under 4-weekly cutting. Root reserves were not maintained unless the cutting interval was extended beyond 7 weeks. Growth stage cutting produced equivalent yields and persistence but lower N concentrations and root reserves than the best fixed interval cutting treatment. There was no evidence that cultivars of different dormancy classes require different cutting management to obtain optimum performance. Therefore, a fixed cutting frequency of 5 weeks throughout the year is an acceptable management compromise for all lucerne cultivars, combining high dry matter and N yields with acceptable levels of foliar N and root reserves. Although the more complex management decisions associated with growth stage cutting appear unwarranted, dry matter yield could be maximised by using a flexible cutting schedule which matched cutting interval with growth rate (4 weeks in summer and 7 weeks in winter).

Herbage dry-matter yield and nitrogen concentration of grass, legume and herb species grown at different nitrogen-fertiliser rates under irrigation

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsty Martin ◽  
Grant Edwards ◽  
Rachael Bryant ◽  
Miriam Hodge ◽  
Jim Moir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Important Goal ◽  
Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽  
N Concentration ◽  
Herbage Yield ◽  
Cutting Management ◽  
Herb Species

An important goal in dairy systems is to increase production while achieving environmental targets associated with lower nitrate leaching from soils. One approach is to identify forages that grow more at a given level of nitrogen (N) input and result in a lower N intake per kilogram dry matter (DM) consumed. However, while N responses have been well described for perennial ryegrasses, less information is available for alternative grasses, legumes and herbs. In the present study, conducted on the Canterbury Plains, New Zealand, six species (perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, white clover, lucerne, chicory and plantain) were grown at six N-fertiliser rates ranging from 0 to 450 kg N/ha.year and managed under irrigation and cutting management. Herbage DM yield and N concentration were measured over 12 months. As N-fertiliser rate increased from 0 to 450 kg N/ha, annual herbage yield increased linearly (from 4794 to 14 329 kg DM/ha.year in grasses and from 7146 to 13 177 kg DM/ha.year in herbs). In contrast, annual herbage yield for legumes was unaffected by N-fertiliser rate and ranged from 11 874 to 13 112 kg DM/ha. Additionally, there were contrasting responses in herbage N concentration between species. At all N-fertiliser rates, herbage N concentration was highest in legumes (43.4 g N/kg DM), then herbs (30.7 g N/kg DM), and lowest in grasses (25.8 g N/kg DM). The N concentration of legume DM was unaffected by increasing N-fertiliser rate, whereas in grasses and herbs it increased. Results suggested that there were no benefits in using herbs instead of grasses for reducing N intake in livestock in an irrigated Canterbury environment.

Comparison of rotations in which barley for grain follows woollypod vetch or forage barley

1987 ◽  
Vol 108 (3) ◽  
pp. 609-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Papastylianou ◽  
Th. Samios
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
N Balance ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Total Soil ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Total Soil N

SummaryUsing data from rotation studies in which barley or woollypod vetch were included, both cut for hay and preceding barley for grain, it is shown that forage barley gave higher dry-matter yield than woollypod vetch (3·74 v. 2·92 t/ha per year). However, the latter gave feedingstuff of higher nitrogen concentration and yield (86 kg N/ha per year for vetch v. 55 kg N/ha per year for barley). Rainfall was an important factor in controlling the yield of the two forages and the comparison between them in different years and sites. Barley following woollypod vetch gave higher grain yield than when following forage barley (2·36 v. 1·91 t/ha). Rotation sequences which included woollypod vetch had higher output of nitrogen (N) than input of fertilizer N with a positive value of 44–60 kg N/ha per year. In rotations where forage barley was followed by barley for grain the N balance between output and input was 5–6 kg N/ha. Total soil N was similar in the different rotations at the end of a 7-year period.

Une régie de trois coupes chez le dactyle (Dactylis glomerata L.) en régions agricoles du Moyen-Nord de l'Est du Canada

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-238
Author(s):  
R. Drapeau
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
The Third ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Cutting Management ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata L ◽  
Heading Stage

Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) has good winter survival in the mid-north agricultural areas of eastern Canada. There is no information on the cutting management to use after the first harvest of orchardgrass under these climatic conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the required interval between harvests following a first harvest at heading stage to optimise the productivity and maintain the persistence of orchardgrass. An interval of 35 d between harvests was sufficient to obtain annual yields of 4 to 6 tonnes of dry matter per hectare. An interval of 28 d between harvests had no negative effects on orchardgrass persistence under our climatic conditions. A second harvest taken 42 d after the first one often had a negative effect on the dry matter yield of the third harvest. Each time this occurred, we observed that the second harvest had been taken after 20 July. Heading dates varied among years. In addition to the growth stage at the first harvest, the date of occurrence of the heading stage should be considered so that the second harvest will be taken before 20 July. Consequently, if heading is delayed in spring, the interval between the first and second harvest must be reduced to take the second harvest before 20 July. Delaying the third harvest had a negative effect on the dry matter yield of the first harvest of the following production year. These results indicate that it is possible to take three harvests before September under the climatic conditions of the mid-north of eastern Canada without affecting the persistence of orchardgrass. Key words: Dactylis glomerata L., orchardgrass, cutting stage, cutting intervals, cutting management, yield

scholarly journals Estimating Elephant-Grass Adaptability and Stability for Energy-Biomass Production by Regression Models

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Alexandre Gomes de Souza ◽  
Yure Pequeno de Souza ◽  
Rogério Figueiredo Daher ◽  
Verônica Brito da Silva ◽  
Geraldo de Amaral Gravina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Elephant Grass ◽  
High Dry Matter ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Genotype Evaluation ◽  
Janeiro State

In Brazil, elephant grass has been researched for energy generation, as it represents an alternative energy source by virtue of its biomass production. The present study was developed to examine the adaptability and energy-biomass production stability of 73 elephant-grass genotypes under a biannual-harvest regime, using the methodologies proposed by Eberhart and Russell and Cruz. The experiment was carried out at the northern region of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Nine harvests and subsequent evaluations were performed at six-month intervals. Each harvest was considered an environment of genotype evaluation. After the plants were harvested, their dry matter yield (DMY) was estimated in t ha-1 harvest. Combined analysis of variance revealed highly significant effects of genotypes, harvests, and genotype × harvest interaction, by the F test. In five of the nine evaluated harvests, the genotypes had an average dry matter yield greater than the overall mean. The method of Eberhart and Russel was effective in identifying highly adaptable elephant-grass genotypes with high dry matter production stability throughout the nine harvests. When the method of Cruz was used, no genotypes were found comprising high yielding ability, adaptability to unfavorable environments, responsiveness to environmental improvement, and high stability altogether.

Influence of irrigation regimes on alfalfa dry matter yield and water productivity in a semiarid subtropical environment*

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 1063-1071
Author(s):  
Murali K. Darapuneni ◽  
Leonard M. Lauriault ◽  
Dawn M. Vanleeuwen ◽  
Sangamesh V. Angadi
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Irrigation Regimes ◽  
Subtropical Environment

Effects of superphosphate application and cutting interval on native pastures in the Clarence Valley, New South Wales

1978 ◽  
Vol 18 (94) ◽  
pp. 718 ◽  
Author(s):  
DL Garden ◽  
DR Brooks ◽  
J Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
New South ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
Cutting Interval ◽  
Native Pastures

The effects of superphosphate rate (nil; 250 kg ha-l initial with 125 kg ha-1 maintenance; and 500 kg ha-1 initial with 250 kg ha-1 maintenance) and cutting interval (2, 4, 6 or 8 weeks) on dry matter yield, growth rate, botanical composition and chemical composition of native pastures on a sandstone soil in the Clarence Valley, New South Wales were studied over a period of three years. Mean annual dry matter yield of unfertilized native pasture was 990 kg ha-l and this was increased to 1322 kg ha-1 at the higher rate of superphosphate. Dry matter yield was depressed from 1587 to 647 kg ha-1 by decreasing cutting interval from 8 weeks to 2 weeks. Pasture growth was limited to the September to May period and 87 per cent of the total annual production occurred in summer and autumn. Maximum growth occurred in the February/March period, with 16.2 kg ha-1 day-1 being the maximum recorded for the unfertilized pasture and 19.9 kg ha-1 day-1 for pasture at the higher rate of superphosphate. Changes in botanical composition were neither large nor consistent. Phosphorus content of the native pasture averaged 0.12 per cent. Crude protein content averaged 7.4 per cent, with levels in standing herbage in winter-spring falling to 3 per cent. Phosphorus yield was 1.1 kg ha-1 year-1 and crude protein yield was 65.8 kg ha-1 year-1. Superphosphate increased phosphorus content and yield, and crude protein yield. Increasing cutting interval decreased phosphorus and crude protein contents but increased phosphorus and crude protein yields by its effect on dry matter yield. Maximum yields obtained were 3.3 kg ha-1 year-1 phosphorus and 100 kg ha-1 year-1 crude protein. It was concluded that the increases obtained would be insufficient to produce worthwhile improvements in animal production, and that an increase in the legume content of these pastures is required before this could occur.

Yield and persistence of irrigated lucernes cut at different frequencies, at Tamworth, New South Wales.

1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
GM Lodge
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Cutting Frequency ◽  
Plant Persistence ◽  
Cutting Interval ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Individual

Three irrigated lucerne cultivars, Pioneer Brand 545 (winter dormant), Condura 73 Brand (semiwinter dormant), and CUF 101 (highly winter active), were harvested at fixed cutting intervals of either 25, 28 ,35, 42 or 48 days from September to April in each of four years. This paper reports the effects of these cutting frequencies on the dry matter yield, leaf to stem ratio and persistence of these cultivars. The effect of cutting frequency on mean total yield (the sum of the mean yields for each harvest) was significant (P<0.05) in each year of the experiment, except year 3. Yields were highest in the 35-day cutting frequency in years 1 and 2. In the fourth year of the experiment the mean total yield of Pioneer Brand 545 and Condura 73 Brand was 29% higher (P<0.05) than CUF 101. By the fourth year substantial amounts of grass were present in the 25- and 28-day cutting interval plots. The contrasts between dormant and active cultivars for the dry matter yield of each of the individual harvests were not consistent in the first two years. In the third and fourth years the active initially outyielded the dormant cultivars at all cutting intervals, but yields of both were generally similar at the end of the season. Increasing the interval between successive harvests generally decreased the mean leaf to stem ratio. The ratio of leaf to stem for CUF 101 was significantly lower (P<0.05) than that for Pioneer Brand 545, with Condura 73 Brand tending to be intermediate. Within cutting intervals, mean declines in plant persistence were similar for cultivars from the different dormancy groups. Largest changes in plant frequency occurred in the fourth year when the mean frequency for the 25- and 28-day plots decreased from 69 to 12% compared with a mean decline from 74 to 65% for the 42- and 48-day cutting intervals. Productive stand life in this experiment was 3 years, even though disease was negligible. Under these conditions grass invasion was mainly related to harvest interval and much less to cultivar dormancy.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document